CLOSE matches were the feature of round ten of the Sunraysia Table Tennis pennant with all decided by a narrow margin of six rubbers to five.
The top three teams were successful resulting in no change at the head of the ladder.
Ladder leader Regional Taxation Services continued on their winning way defeating Cookes Pools & Spas in an entertaining clash despite Cookes winning both doubles.
The highlight for RTS was the straight sets win by number three Jamie Kealley over Cookes’ number one Jackson Tung which proved to be a match winner for his team.
Kealley is having a very consistent season and now has won two singles a round for the past eight rounds which is outstanding for a number three player.
His form is playing a huge factor in his team’s success.
Young Kealley was on track to win three singles for the first time, however, his father Paul had different ideas and the Cookes number two outlasted his hard-hitting son 11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9.
In addition to Jamie winning two singles, his teammates Matt Ljubic and Thanh Nguyen won three and one singles respectively in an even team effort.
Ljubic has now won three singles in each of the past three rounds and is third on the singles aggregate.
After losing two matches in succession Mallee Bearings recovered to win 6-5 over fifth placed Tankard Dental in a thriller.
Despite the Tankard team winning five singles, Kate Carmichael two, Rohan Reimers two and Ed Hung one it was the lack of success in the doubles which was costly.
The first doubles was a highlight when Mallee Bearings pair Arhuang Lau and Mark Dorman raced away to a two-love lead only for opponents Kate Carmichael and Rohan Reimers to fight back and level. The Mallee Bearings pair regained control in the fifth going on to win 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 9-11, 11-6 a vital win.
With Tankard Dental down 3-5 skipper Kate Carmichael stepped up to the table against aggregate leader Lau and what a match this was. Lau had remained undefeated in the first six rounds, however, he had stumbled twice in the past two. In the first game Lau started well only for Carmichael to fight back and hold a game point before Lau grabbed the first 13-11, despite many excellent rallies Lau controlled the second to win 11-5.
Now under pressure to keep her team in the match Carmichael lifted to take the third and fourth 11-5 in each as the pace had lifted from both players. Carmichael held the edge in the fifth and took a 9-6 lead.
At this point she served a rare fault and that was enough for Lau to pounce and in an excellent finish Lau snatched the fifth 12-10 in what had been a top-class contest.
This match was followed by Tankards Rohan Reimers recording a three-set win over the consistent Mark Dorman while Reimers teammate Ed Hung defeated Tom Morrison also in straight sets. Mallee Bearings took the points 6-5, however, Tankards will be encouraged they can match it with the best.
Arhuang Lau for Mallee Bearings enjoyed a good night winning three singles as well as taking part in both doubles’ victories.
Third placed Weightmans Packaging proved too consistent for Choices Flooring Mildura winning 6-5 in another close tussle.
Early in the match Weightmans raced to a 3-1 lead on the back of an excellent comeback in the first doubles by Shannon Bowen and Reece Kurrle who recovered from a two to nil deficit against Wayne Carmichael and Liam Wood.
Bowen and Kurrle are an exciting combination who like to hit the ball hard when they get the opportunity and in an excellent fightback, they took the match 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8.
From this point Choices took the contest by the throat winning four of the next five rubbers to take a 5-4 lead and an upset was brewing. Included in this streak was an outstanding five set marathon with Choices number two Liam Wood outlasting Weightmans number three 8-11, 11-9, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, an entertaining match.
The battle of the number ones featured Choices Wayne Carmichael up against the dangerous Shannon Bowen and this was close in each game, however, Carmichael was able to maintain control and win in three tight games.
Carmichael won three singles this round and remains level with Arhuang Lau in the singles aggregate race. They play each other next round.
With Weighman’s under pressure trailing 4-5, Reece Kurrle then outplayed Liam Wood to win in straight sets and now the scoreline stood at five rubbers all.
When Choices Daniel Jansen took a two games to love lead over Lee Leeson things looked encouraging for his team, however, Leeson was able to grab the third 12-10 to stay alive and from here she was able to steady and play her consistent style and out rally Jansen to go on and win in five sets in an excellent comeback.
In doing so she banked the four points for her team.
Sunraysia Table Tennis 2025 Winter Pennant results Round 10:
PENNANT ONE: – Regional Taxation Services 6 (Matt Ljubic 3, Jamie Kealley 2, Thanh Nguyen 1) d Cookes Pools & Spas 5(Paul Kealley 2, Jackson Tung 1); Weightmans Packaging 6 (Shannon Bowen, Reece Kurrle 2, Lee Leeson 1) d Choices Flooring Mildura 5 (Wayne Carmichael 3, Liam Wood 1); Mallee Bearings 6 (Arhuang (Wong) Lau 3, Mark Dorman 1) d Tankard Dental 5 (Kate Carmichael, Rohan Reimers 2, Ed Hung 1)
PENNANT TWO: – Mallee Meats 6 (Harry Gujral 3, Jason Gifkins 2) d Choices Flooring Mildura 5 (Ashley Morrison 2, Terry Martin, Andrew Jones 1); Weightmans Packaging 7 (Josh Arnold 3, John Fitzpatrick 2, Therese Fitzpatrick 1) d Cookes Pools & Spas 4 (Quentin Clark 2, Duy Truong 1)
PENNANT THREE: – Sammy’s Slammers 8 (Ryan Hensgen, Koby Grace 3, Yen Hwak 2) d Regional Taxation Services 3 (Sam Campbell 1); Exposed Signage/Apparel 6 (Deegan Kerslake 3, Karly Leach, Brenden Johnson 1) d Weightmans Packaging 5 (Nhat Dat, Steve Parker 2)
PENNANT FOUR: – Mallee Meats 7 (Curtis Crabtree 3, Nathan Beard, Conner Burnett 1) d Dunkley Scales 4 (Maria Starikov 2, Jenny Leach, Jake Hines 1); Tankard Dental 6 (Leanne Wilson 3, Ildi Healy, Jakob Grzan 1) d Weightmans Packaging 5 (Glenn Leeson, Eddy Parker 2)
LADDER
PENNANT 1
Regional Taxation Services 32
Mallee Bearings 28
Cookes Pools & Spas 20
Weightmans Packaging 20
Tankard Dental 12
Choices Flooring Mildura 08
For further information on Table Tennis contact Gavin Carmichael 0408 237 907.
